Bath safety handle



April 10, 1962 R. B. WARNER 3,028,604

BA-TH SAFETY HANDLE Filed May 13, 1960 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. ROBERT B. WARNER Rib AT TOR NEY United, States Patent 9 3,028,604 BATH SAFETY HANDLE Robert B. Warner, 42706 N. 3rd St. E., Lancaster, Calif. Filed May 13, 1960, Ser. No. 29,112 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates to a safety handle or fixture for bathtubs and in particular a novel handle of improved construction which may be economically manufactured and is suitable for a variety of installation conditions.

The hand grip or handle of the present invention is designed for attachment to the wall adjacent a bathtub, within convenient reach of the bather, to provide a hand hold which may be grasped by the bather in order to prevent slipping or falling. A variety of safety hand holds for bathtubs have been proposed heretofore, including rails, flexible ties or chains, and extended handles adapted for attachment to the tub or tub fixtures. Notwithstanding these diverse designs, there has not been developed, heretofore, a hand hold having a swiveling action that would afford a feeling of security to the bather and would further have universal mounting features adaptable to a variety of installation situations. The present device, by virtue of its novel construction, meets these requirements and in addition is economical to manufacture.

As is well known, many accidents occur to persons in a bathtub, especially bathtubs of the type commonly known as built-in tubs, in which the outer edge of the roll rim, or the exposed front of the tub, is extended downwardly to the floor level to form an apron. Such a tub provides practically no means, in convenient reach of the bather, to be gripped by the hands to prevent slipping while entering or leaving the tub, or to aid the bather in raising or lowering the body to a sitting position.

Certain prior attempts to provide hand hold means have employed stationary handles or rails for this purpose. However, experience has shown that a flexible or movable hand hold is significantly more suitable for this purpose. An attendant advantage of a movable hand hold is that it may be moved out of the way when not in use and therefore will not interfere with free movement of the bather or with the operation of faucets, shower apparatus or other appliances. There is provided by the present invention, a hand grip mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tub and for rotation about a second axis transverse of the first axis. The handle can be gripped by either hand, the fingers extending within the handle, while placing the other hand on the side of the tub. By pulling on the handle and pressing with the other hand, the bather may easily and safety enter or leave the tub or move the body to or from a sitting position. This novel design is of particular service to invalids, cripples and persons of heavy weight, providing them with a means whereby they may assist themselves while getting into or out of the tub. In addition to its being compact, rugged of simple construction and inexpensive to manufacture, the device of the present invention is easy to assemble and install. There is also provided by the present invention means for attaching it to a variety of wall constructions.

it is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved safety handle for bathtubs which will accommodate a variety of installation conditions.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bathtub safety handle which is compact, rugged and of simple construction and can be economically manufactured, assembled and installed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hand hold having a swiveling action and which will lie closely adjacent to the wall when not in use.

These and other objects of the invention will be more readily understood in connection with the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, illustrating a typical installation of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the invention illustrating the elements comprising the device and their assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view illustrating installation of the mounting bolt into wall studs or a solid wall.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view illustrating the installation of the mounting bolt in a hollow wall.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGURE 1, may be located on the center line of the tub 1 between the two water faucet handles 2 and 3, at a height within easy reach of a person entering or leaving the tub. Since a person must grasp the handle to lift himself from the tub, it should be attached to a wall at the end of the tub. In a typical installation, this may be conveniently located against end wall 4 immediately above the tub faucet 5.

The device comprises an open or ring-like handle 6, as shown in FIGURE 2, which may be conveniently attached to swivel block 7 by means of swivel pins 8 and 9. Handle 6 is of a size as may be conveniently grasped by all of the fingers of the hand to provide a sure grip. Swivel block 7 is proved with a pair of tapped holes, one of which is shown at 10, the other (not shown) being coaxiallycentered at the opposite end of swivel block 7. The threaded end portion 11 of swivel pin 8 is adapted to mate with tapped hole 10. Swivel pin 9 is similarly provided with threaded end portion 12 so that it maybe screwed into its mating tapped hole in block7. Swivel pins 8 and 9 are provided with transverse slots 13 and 14, respectively, to accommodate a conventional screwdriver of suitable size to permit assembly or adjustment. Handle 6 is provided with pivot portions having swivel pin holes 15 and 16 through which pass swivel pins 8 and 9, respectively, when the device is assembled. The unthreaded portion of the swivel pins 8 and 9 serve as journals about which handle 6 may turn.

Swivel block 7 is further provided with central opening 17 through which passes bushing 18. Bushing 18 has an overall length which slightly exceeds the thickness'of swivel block means 7 to provide clearance for pivotal rotation as will be more fully discussed hereinafter. In assembling the device, a pivot shaft in the form of a mounting bolt 19 passes through washer 20, bushing 18, central opening 17 of swivel block 7, and the aperture of escutcheon plate 21. Mounting bolt 19 is terminated on'one end by cap nut 22 and on the opposite end by any one of a variety of fastening means, which typically may be toggle nut 23 and toggle bar 24.

The front edge of washer 20 may be beveled to provide a smoth and attractive surface. Similarly, the exposed edge of escutcheon plate 21 may be beveled; it being understood that escutcheon plate 21 may be of vari- '-ous shapes and sizes as will provide a pleasing 'and attractive appearance.

The toggle type fastening means shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 2 is particularly suitable for attaching the safety handle of the invention to a tiled or plastered wall panel; the manner in which this type of installation is accomplished is illustrated in FIGURE 3. An aperture 27 is formed in the exterior wall finish 25 which may be either plaster or tile and contiguous aperture 28 is formed in the subwall 26 which may be, for example, plaster board, through which one end of mounting bolt 19, carrying toggle nut 23 and toggle bar 24, is inserted. The toggle bar 24 is initially aligned along the axis of mount ing bolt 19, in a well-known manner, to permit its insertion through apertures 27 and 28; these apertures being somewhat larger in diameter than the toggle fastener assembly. The toggle bar is then caused to pivot on toggle nut 23 until it is perpendicular to the axis of mounting bolt 19 to engage the adjacent surface of subwall 26. Mounting bolt 19 is then screwed into toggle nut 23 by turning cap nut 22 in order to complete the installation. Relieved area 21 of escutcheon plate 21 is provided to accommodate slight irregularities or uneveness in the surface of the wall finish 25.

Cap nut 22 is preferably'of an ornamental shape and has an internally threaded bore 22' engaging the threaded end of mounting bolt 19. Cap bolt 22 is screwed into bolt 19 until it solidly engages washer 20 which is urged against bushing 18. Bushing 18 is then urged against escutcheon plate 22. As has been mentioned heretofore, the length of bushing 18 exceeds the thickness of swivel block 7; typically, bushing 18 is 0.015 inch longer than the width of swivel block 7.. This will allow handle 6 to pivotally rotate about the longitudinal axis of mounting bolt 19 without binding or causing a loosening or disassembly of the device. Escutcheon plate 21 holds handle 6 away from the wall 25 by an amount sufficient to aid in grasping the handle by extending the fingers through the ring-like opening therein. It should be noted that escutcheon plate 21 may, if desired, be omitted since it is not altogether essential in which case the end of bushing 18 would hear directly against the wall surface. However, in the preferred embodiment shown, an escutcheon of a size conforming to approximately the diametral dimension of the swivel bar is employed and serves as a thrust bearing surface for the end of bushing 18. Pivotal rotation about the axis of bushing 18 plus rotation about the axes of swivel pins 8 and 9 provide two degrees-offreedom to handle 6.

The construction shown in FIGURE 4 is employed for attaching the device to a solid wall or to a wall stud. Lag bolt 31 is provided with external threads permitting it to be screwed directly into wall surface 30 which, for example, may be plaster and into wall stud 29. End 31' of lug bolt 31 is threaded to mate with the threaded bore of cap nut 32. To facilitate installation, cap nut 32 may be temporarily replaced with a turning nut having suitable wrench flats. Thereafter, the turning nut may be removed from lug bolt 31 to permit the escutcheon plate, the swivel block and bushing, and the washer to be assembled on lug bolt 31, after which cap nut 32 is placed thereon.

The construction shown in FIGURE is somewhat similar to that shown in FIGURE 3 except that it may be employed where access to the opposite side of the wall is available. In the installation illustrated in FIGURE 5, a hollow wall or partition 33, comprising first wall surface 34 and second wall surface 35, is provided with effectively anchors the safety handle assembly in a manner to support substantial force applied to the handle 6 and with a minimum of weakening of the wall structure. Cap nut 22 or 32 and handle 66 may be made to have various ornamental shapes and surface finishes in order to make the entire construction attractive in appearance. While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is: l. A bathroom safety fixture, comprising handle support means adapted to be secured to a wall adjacent to and above a bathroom tub; handle means carried by said handle support means; said handle support means comprising a pivot shaft having a portion adapted to extend outwardly from said wall and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tub; swivel means mounted on said pivot shaft exteriorly of said wall for rotation in a plane transverse to said pivot shaft; and means for pivotally connecting said handle means to said swivel means for rotation of said handle means about an axis transverse to said pivot shaft, so that said handle means may be gripped and rotated about said transverse axis and in said transverse plane by the user of the bath tub to facilitate egress from the tub. 2. A bathroom safety fixture as defined in claim 1; wherein said swivel means comprises a block member having a central opening for receiving said pivot shaft; said handle means comprising a handle having pivot portions located adjacent opposite sides of said block member for pivotal connection to said block member by said pivotally connecting means. 3. A bathroom safety fixture as defined in claim 2; wherein said pivot shaft comprises a mounting bolt adapted for attachment to said wall; said handle support means comprising fastening means for securing said bolt to said wall and for retaining said block member on said bolt. 4. A bathroom safety fixture as defined in claim 1; wherein said handle means comprises an open handle with its ends located on opposite sides of said swivel means so that the fingers of the bath tub user can pass through and grasp said handle; said pivotal connecting means pivotally connecting the ends of said handle to said opposite sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,995 Crafts July 16, 1889 1,370,319 Kennedy Mar. 1, 1921 2,059,171 Harris Oct. 27, 1936 2,694,813 Cartwright et al Nov. 23, 1954 2,758,440 Magid Aug. 14, 1956 

